Avante’s Lucky Cele and James Langa Keep Gospel Legacy Alive After Losing Three Founding Members

Veteran Gospel group Avante is preparing for a new chapter as surviving founders Lucky Cele and James Langa work to keep the group’s legacy alive after the loss of three members. The Durban-based Gospel group went through an extremely difficult period after losing Bongani Ngcobo in 2004, Siphiwe Khanyile in 2011 and group leader Linda Gcwensa in 2019. The deaths deeply affected Cele and Langa, who were not only grieving fellow musicians but also confronting fears about the future of a group they had helped build. Their emotional struggle became so severe that they decided to step away from music and take time to process what had happened. After seeking professional help and attending counselling sessions, the two surviving founders found the strength to return to the studio and continue the work they started decades ago.

For Lucky Cele, the experience was particularly difficult because the members who passed away were also co-founders of Avante. Their deaths created uncertainty about whether the Gospel group could continue without them and left the surviving members questioning their own future. Cele explained that he and Langa became afraid that the repeated losses could somehow mean they were next, creating a fear that affected their willingness to make music. Instead of ignoring those emotions, they chose to seek professional support and participate in counselling sessions. That decision helped them work through their grief and regain the confidence needed to return to their musical calling.

Avante’s history stretches back to 1993, making the group a longstanding presence in the South African Gospel music industry. Over the years, the group has built a following through music that combines Christian themes with messages intended to encourage and uplift listeners. Their journey has included significant changes in membership, but the surviving founders remain committed to preserving the identity that audiences have associated with Avante. Cele says the group has no intention of abandoning the musical style that helped establish its reputation. Instead, the plan is to return with music that remains faithful to the sound and message that their supporters know.

The group is now preparing to release a new single titled “Thabatha Uhlaka,” which Cele said could arrive either at the end of August or the beginning of September. The upcoming release represents more than a return to recording for the surviving founders because it marks a deliberate decision to move forward after years of emotional difficulty. Cele says he and Langa are ready to take on the music industry again and are determined not to look back. Their renewed confidence shows how far they have come since stepping away from music after the deaths of their fellow members. The new song could therefore become an important milestone in Avante’s continuing story.

The planned single is not the only project occupying the group as they rebuild their musical presence. Avante is also working on an EP, giving the veteran Gospel act a broader platform through which to introduce new material. The group is still considering whether the upcoming music will be released through Proper Files or Universal Music. Proper Files, owned by kwaito artist Professor Langa, introduced Avante as one of its recording acts in 2017. The group has also maintained a long relationship with Universal Music, having worked with the company since the beginning of its music career in 1993.

Avante’s most recent album, Uhambo, was released in 2016, meaning the upcoming music will arrive after a significant gap between major projects. That period has included personal loss, changes within the group and time away from recording. The planned single and EP therefore represent an important return for fans who have followed the group over the years. Rather than trying to reinvent itself completely, Avante intends to build on the musical identity that has already connected with its audience. Cele has made it clear that listeners should expect the same group they have known, with the emphasis remaining on meaningful Gospel music.

The losses of Bongani Ngcobo, Siphiwe Khanyile and Linda Gcwensa changed the structure of Avante permanently. Ngcobo died in 2004, Khanyile passed away on 2 February 2011 and Gcwensa, who served as the group’s leader, died on 29 December 2019. Their departures left a significant emotional and creative gap within the group. Ntuthuko Mlaba, Sibonelo Dlamini and Sezwe Mtambo later joined the group as replacements, helping Avante continue its musical journey. Their involvement demonstrates the group’s ability to adapt while retaining the foundation established by its original members.

The emotional impact of losing three members cannot be separated from Avante’s decision to take a break. Cele’s account shows that the surviving founders initially feared that the losses could signal an even darker future for the group. He described the situation as different from the conflicts that often cause musical groups to split because their challenge came from grief and fear rather than disagreements between members. Professional counselling became an important part of their recovery and helped them find the strength to continue. Their return to the studio therefore represents both a professional comeback and a personal step towards healing.

Cele says the group’s musical style has not changed, a decision that will likely reassure longtime Avante supporters. He describes the new music as good and healing music and says the group remains the Avante that fans know and love. That commitment to continuity is important for a veteran Gospel act whose identity has developed over more than three decades. While the group is entering a new phase, its core purpose remains centred on creating music that can encourage and uplift listeners. The upcoming releases will give audiences an opportunity to hear how Avante carries that familiar identity into its next chapter.

For Avante’s surviving founders, returning to music also means honouring the legacy of the members who are no longer with them. Every new recording carries the history of the group and the contribution made by those who helped build it from the beginning. Cele and Langa have chosen to continue rather than allow grief to bring the group’s story to an end. Their willingness to seek counselling, return to the studio and prepare new music demonstrates their determination to protect what Avante represents. As “Thabatha Uhlaka” and the planned EP move closer to release, the group is asking its loyal audience to walk with them into this new season.

Avante’s story is ultimately one of loss, resilience, healing and renewed purpose. Lucky Cele and James Langa faced profound grief after losing three fellow founders, but they refused to let those losses permanently silence the group they helped establish. With professional support, counselling and time away from music, they found the courage to return to the studio and continue Avante’s Gospel mission. The upcoming “Thabatha Uhlaka” single and planned EP signal a determined comeback while remaining rooted in the sound that has defined the group since 1993. As Avante moves forward, its surviving founders are not simply restarting a music career, they are keeping a decades-long Gospel legacy alive and carrying its message to a new generation of listeners.